Extension stepladder



April 23, 1935. J. J. GANTEsKl 1,999,017

EXTENS ION STEPLADDER Filed oci. 20,' 1954 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 EXTENSION STEPLADDER t Joseph J. Ganteski, Philadelphia, Pa. v

Applicationl October 20,

`L1 claims.

My invention relates' toy new and useful improvements in an extension Stepladder, and has for one of its objects to provide :an Vexceedingly simple and effective device'of this character that will be strong and durable and efficient for the purpose for which it is intended.

The invention contemplates va `structure in which certain sections areadjustable relative to other sections whereby the same maybe extended to provide a relatively tall or high ladder and collapsed or telescoped to provide a shorter ladder for use as such and also for the purpose of providing a small, compact parcel which will require but little space for storage and transportation.,

Another object of the invention is to provide adjustable and removablev steps which permit onesection of the ladder to be telescoped or collapsed relative to another section although the side pieces are arranged side by side or face to face in contradistinction to anassernbly where the r sections are imposed upon one another.

Another object of this invention is to fashion the side panels vofthe upper section of the'step portion so as to produce slots with offset step seats to permit adjustment of 'thevsteps Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable stepnof unique construction.

Another object of the invention isto provide wear plates for the seats. of the adjustable steps. A further object of my invention is toprovide a detachable stair brace which, when attached to the ladder, makes it possible to use' theladde'rY on the stairs of buildings.

A still further object ofthe invention is to produce a ladder ofthe kind described which will be rugged in construction and capable of Ymany uses not possible with the ordinary step ladder.

With the above and other objects in view', this invention consists ofthe detailsv ofconstruction andl combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated'by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Fig. 1 is avperspective view of an extension step ladder constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrated in an extended condition and open for use, also showing the stair brace attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is 'a side elevation of thevladder shown telescoped or collapsed and folded or closed.

1934, serial No. '149,2424

(c1. v,22a-21) ll'ig.i3 is a perspective Vi ew of one of the adjustable and removable steps.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view'on the lined- 4 of Fig. l, and

Y Fig.l 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one of the side piec plate" in a step seat.

In carrying out my bodied, IB represents the st es illustrating a wear invention as herein emep portion and I I Ythe brace portion of the extension step ladder.

rIhe stepportion Ill consists of a lower section I2 and an upper section I3.

I2 comprises side pieces I4 between them and the top The lower section with steps I5 secured step is preferably superimposed on the upper ends of said side pieces.

The upper section I3 of the step portion also the lower section. V

Guide bails 23 are fixed to the side pieces of the lower section through which the side pieces of the upper section slide tions Vin proper alignment.

to maintain the sec- InV the side pieces I6, adjacent their upper ends Yare formed longitudinally spaced step seats 2|,

offset relative to the slo-t Il' with said slot through a g sirable the step seats mayV inthe seats and provided and communicating ap 22. If found debe protected by wear plates 23 which are U-shaped strips of metal fitted rwith wings 24 contacting faces of the side pieces and secured thereto by fastening devices 25.

Hinge members 26 of any desirableA formation are secured to the upper ends of the side pieces I 6 of the Vupper section of the step portion and across the upperV ends of said'side pieces is mountable and removable steps necks 29 at both ends, whi

ed a top'step or platform 2l.

Between the side pieces I6 are located adjust- 28 having restricted ch necks carry heads 3 spaced from contiguous ends of the steps a distance equal to the thickness of said side pieces I6. The necks slide in either the slots I'I or the Yseats 2l and therefore the adjustable steps 28 can be arranged in their operative positions, f

as in Fig. 1, or they can be nested on the top step I5 of the lower step ladder is to be collapsed or in Fig. 2. When the adj nested, the necks 29 will b section I2 when the telescoped, as shown ustable steps 28 are e in the slots I1 and to prevent said steps from protruding they may be inverted. By making the slots II as wide as the thickness of said steps, the latter may be actually removed from the side pieces I6.

The brace portion I I also comprises a lower section 3| and an upper section 32, the latter being hinged to the hinge members 26 in any desirable manner but preferably by a rod 33 which passes through both hinge members 26 and the upper ends of the side pieces 34 of said upper section 32 of the brace portion II.

The side pieces 34 of the upper brace section 32 have longitudinal slots 35 for registration with bolts 35 fixed in the side pieces 31 of the lower brace section 3i. Lever nuts 38 are screwed on the bolts 3S to clamp the brace sectionsv together in any selected adjustment. The side pieces 3l of the lower' brace section 3| have a strut 33 secured thereto and mortised in the edges thereof and said side pieces have guide bails 40 xed to them through which the side pieces of the upper brace section slide for holding the parts in proper alignment. The side pieces 34 of the upper brace section are also supported by a strut 4I which is fastened to edges of said side pieces.

Flexible ties 42 are attached to the step and i brace portions I 1J and II respectively to prevent adjustment by said lever nuts.

undue spreading of said portions when the ladder is in use.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the lever nuts I9 and 38 are loosened, the brace and step sections may be extended any desirable distance within the limits of the slots I'I and 35 and the parts then clamped in the selected One or more of they adjustable steps 28 are then assembled in their.V respective seats and the ladder is ready for use. In order to overcome any possibility-of the adjustable steps tipping when a person stands on them, pins 43 are projected through holes in the side pieces I6 just underneath the operative positions of said adjustable steps. These pins 43' may be attached to chains 44 or their equivalent which are anchored to the side pieces to prevent the pins from being lost or misplaced.

The extensibility of the ladder enables a person to adjust the same for use in various localities and to reach diierent heights without the necessity of employing two or more ordinary ladders thereby saving expense and eliminating the carrying or transportation of a number of different sized ladders.

To collapse or telescope the ladder, the lever nuts are released and the adjustable steps are removed from their seats and shifted into the longitudinal slots Il and the sections then slide lengthwise until the lower sections of both the step and brace portions are practically within the upper sections. In this condition the adjustable steps 28 will be resting upon the top step I5 of the lower section and therefore do not interfere with the telescoping action of the'step portion sections.

When the s'ections are fully collapsed, the ladder will occupy a very small amount of space and can be readily carried or transported from place to place with little difficulty.

In order that the ladder may be used on stairs of a building I provide a stair brace 45 consisting of a pair of legs 46 to which a strut 41 is secured for strengthening purposes. The stair brace is detachably connected with the ladder and more particularly to the hinge members 26 by any suitable fastening means 48 which may be quickly removed for attaching said stair brace to the ladder when occasion requires it or for detaching the same whenever its use is not necessary or the ladder is to be folded for storage or transportation. During use of the stair brace, the step portion I0 and the brace portion II are folded together in a manner similar to the illustration' in Fig. 2 and said step and brace portions adjusted to suit the conditions.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact detailsV of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied Within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my what I claim as new and useful is;-

1. An extension step ladder including a pair of step sections, one of said sections consisting o-f two side pieces with stationary steps mounted between them, clamping means carried by said side pieces the other of said sections including two side pieces having laterally disposed longiinvention,

tudinal slots for registration with the clampingV means and further provided with step seats communicating through gaps with the slots, adjustable stepsV mounted between the side pieces of said other section and having means selectively disposable in the slots or seats, hinge members xed to the upper ends of the side pieces of said other section, and an extensible brace portion connected to lsaid hinge members.

2. The structureV in claim 1, in combination with U-shaped wear plates mounted in the step seats and having Wings by which said yplates are secured in place.

3. In a device of the character described, a step portion including two telescoping sections, a brace portion consisting oftwo telescoping sections, means `to which said portions are connected to form a step ladder, one of the vsections of the step portion having longitudinal slots with offset step seats in its side pieces, adjustable steps between the slotted side pieces, necks on the ends of said steps for selective registration with the slots and seats, and heads on the outer ends of said necks for disposal outside of the side pieces.

4. The structure in claim 3, in combination with pins temporarily projected through the side pieces anddisposed beneath the adjustable steps when the latter are positioned with their necks in the step seats.

JOSEPH J. GAN'I'ESKI. 

